Toy making wheel assemblies



Feb- 11 J M, TOY MAKING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES Filed July 17. 1961 IN VEN TOR JUNE M. SmoNDS United States Patent Ofiice 3,120,719 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 3,120,719 TOY MAKENG WHEEL ASSEMBLIES June M. Simonds, Seattle, Wash. (R0. Box 25, .lerseyville, Ill.) Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,732 14 Claims. (Cl. 46--17) The present invention relates to user-constructed toys, vehicles, and more particularly to toy making wheel assemblies specifically adapted to be readily attached to and make a wheeled toy of an article having spaced ends or edges, such as an open-ended can or box, or simply a block or flat board, for example. Related aspects of the invention involve forms of end wheel assemblies incorporating either power driving means or incorporating nonpowered arrangements, such end assemblies being of a nature to be readily assemblable on available articles such as cans, boxes, blocks, boards and the like to form wheeled units and also to form interconnectible units.

Characteristically, the toy making end wheel assemblies of the present invention have a pair of oppositely facing hook configurations, such provided by a double reverse bend, one such hook or reverse bend being disposed to engage an end edge of the article on which the wheel assembly is mounted, and the other such hook or reverse bend being disposed to lie along and stand outwardly slightly from the side of the article between the ends of the article, so as to be interconnectible to another end wheel assembly by expansible connection means such as a rubber band. By its use of an expansible connection between end wheel assemblies, the wheel arrangement of the present invention provides for full adaptability of the end wheel assemblies for installation on any size of article. Other related features of the wheel assemblies characteristic of the invention include provision therein for means to interconnect one wheel end assembly of a given wheeled vehicle with another end wheel assembly of another wheeled vehicle so that one will tow the other and the assemblage of units provides a toy of the tow or train type.

These and other features and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying illustration of typical and therefore non-limitive forms thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, with certain parts removed and shown in cross section for clarity of illustration, of a battery operated, motor driven, end wheel assembly, together with a non-powered end wheel assembly interconnected with the powered end wheel assembly in a manner characteristic of the invention, showing such end wheel assemblies mounted on an open-ended can, the latter being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the toy making wheel assembly shown in FIG. 1, showing further detail thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, isometric view on a reduced scale of two box-mounted end wheel assemblies arranged according to the present invention and connected to form a train; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of end wheel assembly construction and tongue connection.

The present invention is expressly intended to serve as an article of commerce which is to be obtained by the user as a wheel assembly kit, from which the user, such as a child in the sub-teen age group, can construct his own toys on a do-it-yourself basis. Consistent with these purposes, the components of the end wheel assemblies are advantageously readily assemblable and disassemblable by the user, and the assembly as marketed suitably comprises one self-powered end wheel assembly and several (e.g. nine or eleven) non-powered end wheel assemblies. From such a kit, the user can then proceed to make toy vehicles from suitable open-ended articles such as coffee cans, cereal boxes, blocks, flat boards, and the like, as are available in the home, one such unit being formed from a powered and non-powered end wheel assemblage to be the engine or tractor, and the other such unit being provided with non-powered wheeled assemblies to be the cars or trailers, for example.

FIGS. 1 and 2 serve to illustrate the toy making arrangement of a self-powered end wheel assembly and a non-powered end wheel assembly at opposite ends of an open ended article such as can C, a conventional two pound coffee can being selected as the article, simply by way of example. As will be apparent, the article such as can C can be open at one end, or at both ends, it being a desirable feature of the powered end wheel assembly of the invention that such is accommodated principally within the open end of the article. However, the nonpowered end wheel assembly, as shown at the left in FIGS. 1 and 2, need not necessarily be applied to the open end of an article such as can C, so no special preparation of such article is necessary for use with the wheel assemblies of the invention, such articles being usually available with one end open. However, as will also be apparent, when two non-powered units are assembled on an article such as can C, the constructional nature of the non-powered end wheel assemblies is such that it is not necessary that either end of the article be open. Also, of course, if the article is thin, such as simply a flat board, then the inboard arrangement of the powered end wheel assembly is readily accommodated above the board.

Giving specific consideration first to the constructional nature of the self-powered end wheel assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such comprises preferably plastic wheels 10, non-rotatively mounted on a preferably metal axle 12, and a frame 14. Said frame 14 is preferably constructed of a molded plastic, such as polystyrene or polyethylene, and is configured at one end to provide two laterally spaced, depending legs 16, with slotted lower ends 18 frictionally engageable and disengageable with respect to axle 12.

Between said legs 16 and also comprising an integrated part of frame 14 is a hook portion in the form of a return bend segment 20 which engages the end edge 22 of can C. End engaging return bend 20 joins a frame portion 23 which may be termed an axially extending portion in that it is disposed to lie along one side of the can C, making supporting contact therewith adjacent return bend 20 (note FIG. 1). Said axial portion 23 terminates in a second hook portion or return bend segment 24 configured reversely of and facing in a direction opposite that of end engaging return bend 20, i.e. facing away from the opposite end 26 of the can C. (Bend 20, portion 23 and bend 24 compositely provide what will be seen to be an S hook-up configuration, one arm (20) of which engages the article and one arm (24) of which engages the interconnection means (28). As will be readily understood and as more specifically discussed below, the self-powered end wheel assembly is mounted on the can C by interconnection with the non-powered end wheel assembly at the other end of the can, such interconnection being provided by a preferably expansible connection means such as a rubber band 28 being hooked around the second return bend or book portion 24.

Frame 14 mounts by, suitable means (not shown) a small direct current motor 30, and also mounts in its upper portion battery 32, such as a standard flashlight cell, which powers motor 30 through spring contacts 33, wire connections 34 and manually controllable switch means 66. The motor 30, battery 32, contacts 33, connections 34 and switch 36 are merely typical selfap-owering means and can be of any desired type and arranged in 3 any manner desired. Also, the switching can be made to reverse the direction of drive, by means known per se, such as by using a center-off double pole, double throw switch as switch means 36, to reverse the connections of battery 32 to motor 30. Such self-powering means can also be of a spring powered, wind-up type, by way of further example in this regard. It is advantageous, however, with respect to the powering arrangement and configuration of frame 14 that such be relatively narrow, such as shown, in the dimension parallel to axle 12, so that it is accommodated within a relatively narrow or thin article, such as the common size of cereal box which is considerably wider and longer than thick, for example.

In the specific construction shown, support and a degree of protection for motor 30 is provided by upstanding wall portions 33 {forming an integrated part of frame 14, the rigidity of frame 14 is augmented by bracing segments 40, and the battery 32 is retained by conventional means such as opposed clips, one of which is shown at 42.

The rotary motive power for the assembly is transmitted from motor 30 through drive pulley 4'4, drive belt 46, and driven pulley 43, which is keyed to axle 12, as by screw 50. As will be apparent, any other suitable means for transmitting the motive power to the axle 12 and wheels can be utilized, such as plastic or metal gearing, conventional per se in powered toy devices, as desired.

In the user-assembled toy shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assemblage is completed by a second, non-powered end wheel assembly comprising wheels 60, freely rotatable on axle 62 friotionally mounted in end portions 64 of legs 66 of frame 68, preferably also molded from plastic. In addition to leg portions 66, said frame 68 further comprises a return bend or hook portion 70 engaging the end 26 of can C and an oppositely facing return bend portion 72 situated to be directly accessible on the inboard side of axle 62 and constituting a hook means receiving the expansible connection means 28 in conjunction with the hook or second return bend 24 of the powered end wheel assembly.

The assemblage of the end wheel assemblies onto the can C is maintained by the tension occurring on expansible means 28 when strung around return bends or book portions 24 and 72 of the respective end wheel assemblies.

Return bend or hook portion 70' of frame 68 which engages the end 26 of can C is preferably but not necessarily of an uneven configuration, such as provided by teeth 74, to ensure gripping contact thereof with the edge of the article, eg the edge 26 of can C, is maintained.

For purposes of connection of the non-powered end wheel assembly with other non-powered end wheel assemblies of other units to form a train or tow, frame 63 thereof is configured to include a tongue-like extension 76 projecting axially of the can C, which extension 76 is provided with suitable means for connecting same to other tongue-like elements of other end wheel assemblies, such as slotted hole 78 and button projection 80. As will be apparent, and in a manner conventional per se, one slotted hole 7 S of one tongue-like element '76 'will engage and be retained by the button projection 80 of another tonguelike element 76 to complete a towing connection, and interchangeably so. As will also be apparent, any suitable form of tongue interconnection means can be utilized.

FIG. 3 illustrates such manner of interconnection of two non-powered end wheel assemblies, the respective end wheel assemblies being identical per so with the form thereof shown at FIG. 2. Also, said FIG. 3 serves to illustrate in fragmentary phantom view the installation of such end wheel assemblies on typical rectangularly shaped articles, such as boxes B.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of end wheel assembly, also characteristic of the invention, wherein the wheels 60 and axle 62 are mounted on frame members 63 formed of metal, with the characteristic hook means '70 and 72'. Also, said frame members 63', as shown in FIG. 4, comprise metallic, projecting tongues 76 which are in this modification interconnectible by means of a permanent magnet 82 suitably aifixed to one of the tongue elements 76 and magnetically attracting the other tongue element 76 to complete a towing connection.

From the foregoing, various further modifications, adaptations and modes of utilization of the toy making wheel assemblies of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention is addressed, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy making wheel assemblage especially adapted to he attachable to an article of a type with lipped edges at the ends thereof to make the same a wheeled toy, comprising a pair of wheel mounting frame members each including a wheel arranged outboardly of each side thereof, and each frame member having an article supporting surface, a first hook means cooperating with said article supporting surface to form a relatively shallow gap for engaging a lipped edge of the article, and a second hook means, such wheel assemblage further comprising a longitudinally expansible connection means adapted to interconnect said second hook means.

2. A toy making wheel assemblage especially adapted to be attachable to an article of a type with lipped edges at the ends thereof to make the same a wheeled toy, comprising a pair of wheel means mounting frame members each having an article supporting surface, a first hook means cooperating with said article supporting surface to form a relatively shallow gap for engaging a lipped edge of the article, and a second hook means, such wheel assemblage further comprising a longitudinally expansible connection means adapted to interconnect said second hook means, and one of said wheel means mounting frame members comprising self-powered motive means mounted atop said first hook means, and means drivingly linking such self-powered means to the associated Wheel means, and the other said wheel means mounting frame member being non-powered.

3. The assemblage of claim 2, wherein at least one of the said frame members comprises a tongue-like element projecting beyond the edge of the article engaging hook means thereof, said tongue-like element being provided with means for connecting same to the tongue-like element of another end wheel assembly.

4. In combination with an article of a type having lipped ends, a pair of toy vehicle making end wheel assemblies, one located at each end of said article, each assembly comprising a wheel mounting frame, axle means mounting a wheel outboardly of each side of said mounting frame, and first hook means engaging a portion of the lip of the adjacent end of said article and each assembly having a second hook means lying intermediate the ends of the article and substantially contiguous to one side thereof, such combination further comprising longitudinally tensioned, endless connection means looped over and interconnecting the said second hook means.

5. In combination with an article of a type having lipped ends, a pair of toy vehicle making end wheel assemblies, each assembly comprising an axle and wheel means mounting frame and a first hook means engaging a portion of the lip of the adjacent end of said article and each having a second hook means lying intermediate the ends of the article and substantially contiguous to one side thereof, such combination further comprising longitudinally tensioned, endless connection means looped over and interconnecting the said second hook means, one of said end wheel assemblies further comprising self-powered motive means mounted atop said article engaging hook means and means drivingly linking such self-powered means to the associated axle and wheel means.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein at least one of the said frames comprises a tongue-like element projecting beyond the edge of the article engaging hook means thereof, said tongue-like element being provided with means for connecting same to the tongue-like element of another end wheel assembly.

7. The assemblage of several toy vehicles according to claim 6, with the respective tongue-like element thereof interconnected in towing relation.

8. A toy making wheel assemblage attachable to an edged article to make same a wheeled toy, comprising a pair of end assemblies, each including a frame member having a first reverse bend element engageable With an end edge of the article and a second reverse bend element facing reversely of the first said reverse bend element, each such end assembly further comprising axle and wheel means mounted on said frame member, said axle and wheel means including an axle extending across said frame member and a wheel mounted outboardly of the frame member at each end of said axle, said reverse bend elements being relatively narrow compared to the length of said axle, and longitudinally expan-sibtle, endless connection means adapted to be looped over and interconnect the latter-mentioned reverse bend elements.

9. In combination with an edged article, a pair of end wheel assemblies making a toy therefrom, each such end wheel assembly comprising an axle, with a wheel arranged at each end of said axle, a finst hook element engaging one of a pair of respectively opposed end portions of said article, and a second hook element lying intermediate the ends of the article and substantially contiguous to one side thereof, and a longitudinally tensioned, endless connection means looped over and interconnecting the lattermentioned hook elements, the collective configuration of the hook elements of each wheel assembly being substantially in the form of an S.

A toy making end wheel assembly adapted to be used as a pair interconnected by longitudinally tensioned connection means and retained thereby in an edge contacting relation with an edged article, said assembly comprising a frame and a pair of wheels mounted for rotation on respective ends of an axle, said frame being relatively narrow in comparison with the axle length, said frame including means supporting said axle, an edged article supporting surface, a first hook means cooperating with said article supporting surface to form a relatively shallow gap for engaging the edge of said edged article, a second hook means centrally located on said frame and disposed to receive said connection means when said first hook means is in article edge engagement, said second book means being narrower than said frame, and a tongue-like element projecting beyond the edge of the article engageable hook means, the said tongue-like element being provided with means for connecting same to the tongue-like element of another end wheel assembly.

11. The end wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the said means for connecting the tongue-like element to the tongue-like element of another end wheel assembly comprises both friction connectible hole and button means on the tongue-like element.

12. The end wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the means for connecting the tongue-like element to the tongue-like element of another end wheel assembly comprises magnetic means.

13. A toy making end Wheel assembly adapted to be used as a pair interconnected by longitudinally tensioned connection means and retained thereby in an edge contacting relation with an edged article, said assembly comprising a frame and axle and wheel means comprising a pair of wheels mounted for rotation on respective ends of an axle, said frame being relatively narrow in comparison with the axle length, said frame including means supporting said axle, an edged article supporting surface, a first, relatively elongated *hook means extending generally parallel to and cooperating with said article supporting surface to form a relatively shallow gap for engaging a substantial portion of an edge of said edged article, a second hook means centrally located on said frame and disposed to receive said connection means when said first hook means is in article edge engagement, self-powered motive means mounted on top of said first, relatively elongated hook means, and means drivingly linking such self-powered motive means to the associated axle and Wheel means.

14. The end wheel assembly of claim 13, wherein said self-powered motive means comprises a battery operated motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,174,661 Hope et al Oct. 3, 1939 2,556,952 Wojtowicz June 12, 1951 2,701,152 Cutler Feb. 1, 1955 2,789,828 Gary Apr. 23, 1957 2,899,213 Winger Aug. 11, 1959 2,903,974 Smith Sept. 15, 1959 2,939,245 Orel June 7, 1960 2,968,490 Bans Jan. 17, 1961 

1. A TOY MAKING WHEEL ASSEMBLAGE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHABLE TO AN ARTICLE OF A TYPE WITH LIPPED EDGES AT THE ENDS THEREOF TO MAKE THE SAME A WHEELED TOY, COMPRISING A PAIR OF WHEEL MOUNTING FRAME MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A WHEEL ARRANGED OUTBOARDLY OF EACH SIDE THEREOF, AND EACH FRAME MEMBER HAVING AN ARTICLE SUPPORTING SURFACE, A FIRST HOOK MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID ARTICLE SUPPORTING SURFACE TO FORM A RELATIVELY SHALLOW GAP FOR 